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[email protected] Tweet Us: @visitphillypr Tweet It: This June, African American Music Appreciation Month—a.k.a. Black Music Month—comes home to @visitphilly for a 40th anniversary: vstphl.ly/2E2r8te PHILADELPHIA CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC APPRECIATION MONTH IN JUNE 2019 Born-in-Philly Event Includes The Roots Picnic, Odunde, Live Jazz & WDAS Summer Block Party PHILADELPHIA, May 10, 2019 – African American Music Appreciation Month turns 40 this June, and Philadelphia, the place where Black Music Month began, will honor the occasion with live sounds and spectacular festivals. The month starts with the annual Roots Picnic, where the born-and-raised band marks the 20th anniversary of their iconic Things Fall Apart album at, for the first time, The Mann Center for the Performing Arts. The celebration continues with live performances all over town, including Malidelphia, Mir Fontane, Odunde and so many more. The best way to experience African American Music Appreciation Month in Philly is by sleeping over. Live Nation concertgoers can take advantage of the Visit Philly Live Nation Hotel Package, which comes with free hotel parking and perks for Live Nation concerts including Bobby Brown with Bell, Bev, Devoe at The Met and NAV at The Fillmore. The hotel package is bookable online at: visitphilly.com/features/visit-philly-live-nation-hotel-package. African American Music Appreciation Month History: On June 7, 1979, pioneering songwriter and record producer Kenny Gamble, one half of The Sound of Philadelphia, on-air radio personality and music activist Dyana Williams (then Gamble’s spouse), and Cleveland radio DJ Ed Wright met with President Jimmy Carter to declare June “Black Music Month.” In 2000, Congress made that declaration law.